Colossians

[John Reece]

This is a non-debate reading and grammatical analysis thread.

Throughout this thread, entries in the section headed 'Analysis' will consist of excerpts from A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament, by Max Zerwick and Mary Grosvenor (Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 1981).

Occasionally, the Analysis may include an entry headed BG: all such entries will consist of quotations from Biblical Greek: Illustrated by Examples, by Maximilian Zerwick S.J., English edition adapted from the fourth Latin edition by Joseph Smith S.J. (Scripta Pontificii Instituti Biblici: Rome, 1963).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:1-2):

Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τοῖς ἐν Κολοσσαῖς ἁγίοις καὶ πιστοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν.

Transliteration:

Paulos apostolos Christou Iēsou dia thelēmatos theou kai Timotheos ho adelphos tois en Kolossais hagiois kai pistois adelphois en Christō̧, charis hymin kai eirēnē apo theou patros hēmōn.

Translation (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Analysis (Zerwick):

οἱ ἅγιοι : because dedicated to God ; title of all believers.
πιστός : faithful, full of faith, under one article with ἅγιοι.
χάρις ... καὶ εἰρήνη : combines and Christianizes Greek and Hebrew greetings : χαίρεν and šālôm.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:3):

Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ πατρὶ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν προσευχόμενοι

Transliteration:

Eucharistoumen tō̧ theō̧ patri tou kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou pantote peri hymōn proseuchomenoi

Translation (ESV)

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you

Analysis (Zerwick):

εὐχαριστέω : give thanks.
πάντοτε : always, uncertain whether to be associated with εὐχαριστέω or
προσεύχομαι : pray.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:4):

ἀκούσαντες τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην ἣν ἔχετε εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους

Transliteration:

akousantes tēn pistin hymōn en Christō̧ Iēsou kai tēn agapēn hēn echete eis pantas tous hagious

Translation (ESV)

since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἀκούσαντες : aorist participle of ἀκούω hear.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:5):

διὰ τὴν ἐλπίδα τὴν ἀποκειμένην ὑμῖν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἣν προηκούσατε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ἀληθείας τοῦ εὐαγγελίου

Transliteration:

dia tēn elpida tēn apokeimenēn hymin en tois ouranois, hēn proēkousate en tō̧ logō̧ tēs alētheias tou euaggeliou

Translation (ESV)

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἐλπίς, -ίδος, ἡ : hope, i.e. what is hoped for.
ἀποκειμένην : participle of ἀπόκειμαι put away/on one side, with dative reserve for.
προηκούσατε : aorist of προακούω hear beforehand/already.
λόγος τῆς ἀληθείας : possibly "Hebrew" genitive* true word.

*The "Hebrew " genitive. Of the types of genitive commonly listed by grammarians, the one which approaches most closely the "general" genitive is the "attributive" or "qualitative" one, also called the "Hebrew" genitive, inasmuch as its scope and use in Biblical Greek is extended, owing to Semitic influence, to many expressions in which the Greeks used not a genitive but an adjective (BG §40).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:6):

τοῦ παρόντος εἰς ὑμᾶς, καθὼς καὶ ἐν παντὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ἐστὶν καρποφορούμενον καὶ αὐξανόμενον καθὼς καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσατε καὶ ἐπέγνωτε τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ·

Transliteration:

tou parontos eis hymas, kathōs kai en panti tō̧ kosmō̧ estin karpophoroumenon kai auxanomenon kathōs kai en hymin, aph’ hēs hēmeras ēkousate kai epegnōte tēn charin tou theou en alētheia̧;

Translation (ESV)

which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing ― as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth

Analysis (Zerwick):

παρόντος : participle of πάρειμι be present, have come, in latter sense sometimes with πρός or εἰς.
καρποφορούμενον : middle participle of καρποφορέω bear fruit.
αὐξανόμενον : passive participle of αὐξάνω cause to grow, increase ; passive intransitive grow.
ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας = ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ᾗ : since the day in which.
ἠκούσατε : aorist of ἀκούω hear.
ἐπέγνωτε : aorist of ἐπιγινώσκω know ; aorist came to know of.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:7):

καθὼς ἐμάθετε ἀπὸ Ἐπαφρᾶ τοῦ ἀγαπητοῦ συνδούλου ἡμῶν, ὅς ἐστιν πιστὸς ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν διάκονος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Transliteration:

kathōs emathete apo Epaphra tou agapētou syndoulou hēmōn, hos estin pistos hyper hymōn diakonos tou Christou

Translation (ESV)

just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἐμάθετε : aorist of μανθάνω learn.
ἀγαπητός : beloved.
σύνδουλος : fellow-servant.
πιστός : faithful, dependable, inspiring trust/faith, here probably trustworthy.
ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν : on your behalf [[textual variant ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν in our stead]].*
διάκονος : assistant, minister.

*1.7 ὑμῶν {B} Although on the basis of superior Greek evidence (P46 and early Alexandrian and Western authorities) ἡμῶν might seem to be preferable, a majority of the Committee, impressed by the widespread currency of ὑμῶν in versional and patristic witnesses, considered it probable that copyists introduced the first person pronoun under the influence of the preceding ἡμῶν and the following ἡμῖν (Bruce Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:8):

ὁ καὶ δηλώσας ἡμῖν τὴν ὑμῶν ἀγάπην ἐν πνεύματι.

Transliteration:

ho kai dēlōsas hēmin tēn hymōn agapēn en pneumati.

Translation (ESV)

and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

Analysis (Zerwick):

δηλώσας : here, told us of, aorist participle of δηλόω show.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:9):

Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν, οὐ παυόμεθα ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν προσευχόμενοι καὶ αἰτούμενοι, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει πνευματικῇ

Transliteration:

Dia touto kai hēmeis, aph’ hēs hēmeras ēkousamen, ou pauometha hyper hymōn proseuchomenoi kai aitoumenoi, hina plērōthēte tēn epignōsin tou thelēmatos autou en pasȩ̄ sophia̧ kai synesei pneumatikȩ̄

Translation (ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν = ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ᾗ : since the day in which.
παυόμεθα : passive of παύω cease, stop ; passive cease.
προσευχόμενοι : participle of προσεύχομαι pray.
αἰτούμενοι : beseeching, middle participle of αἰτέω ask, ask for : προσευχόμενοι καὶ αἰτούμενοι perhaps a hendiadys, asking in my prayers for you.
πληρωθῆτε : aorist passive subjunctive of πληρόω to make full, fill.
ἐπίγνωσις : knowledge (if a verb in the action takes a double accusative, in the passive one accusative may remain.
ἐν : instrumental.
σοφία : wisdom.
σύνεσις : understanding, insight.
πνευματικός : spiritual.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:10):

περιπατῆσαι ἀξίως τοῦ κυρίου εἰς πᾶσαν ἀρεσκείαν, ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ καρποφοροῦντες καὶ αὐξανόμενοι τῇ ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ

Transliteration:

peripatēsai axiōs tou kyriou eis pasan areskeian, en panti ergō̧ agathō̧ karpophorountes kai auxanomenoi tȩ̄ epignōsei tou theou

Translation (ESV)

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Analysis (Zerwick):

περιπατῆσαι : aorist infinitive of περιπατέω walk, in ethical sense, behave, live.
ἀξίως : (with genitive) in a manner worthy of.
ἀρεσκεία : desire to please; εἰς πᾶσαν ἀρεσκείαν seeking to please him in all things.
καρποφοροῦντες : participle of καρποφορέω bear fruit.
αὐξανόμενοι : passive participle of αὐξάνω cause to grow, increase ; passive intransitive grow.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:11):

ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει δυναμούμενοι κατὰ τὸ κράτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ εἰς πᾶσαν ὑπομονὴν καὶ μακροθυμίαν. Μετὰ χαρᾶς

Transliteration:

en pasȩ̄ dynamei dynamoumenoi kata to kratos tēs doxēs autou eis pasan hypomonēn kai makrothymian. Meta charas

Translation (ESV)

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy

Analysis (Zerwick):

πάσα δύναμις : (without article) power of every kind.
δυναμούμενοι : passive participle of δυναμόω strengthen.
κράτος : might, power.
τῆς δόξης : of his glory (i.e. divinity) or his glorious might (Hebrew genitive*).
εἰς : with a view to.
ὑπομονή : fortitude.
μακροθυμία : (long temper) patience.
χαρά : joy ; μετὰ χαρᾶς joyfully, as punctuated in our text associated with εὐχαριστοῦντες (verse 12).

*The "Hebrew " genitive. Of the types of genitive commonly listed by grammarians, the one which approaches most closely the "general" genitive is the "attributive" or "qualitative" one, also called the "Hebrew" genitive, inasmuch as its scope and use in Biblical Greek is extended, owing to Semitic influence, to many expressions in which the Greeks used not a genitive but an adjective (BG §40).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:12):

εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ πατρὶ τῷ ἱκανώσαντι ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν μερίδα τοῦ κλήρου τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῷ φωτί

Transliteration:

eucharistountes tō̧ patri tō̧ hikanōsanti hymas eis tēn merida tou klērou tōn hagiōn en tō̧ phōtis

Translation (ESV)

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Analysis (Zerwick):

εὐχαριστοῦντες : participle of εὐχαριστέω give thanks.
ἱκανώσαντι : aorist participle of ἱκανόω (< ἱκανός sufficient) make fit.
ὑμᾶς : you (plural) [[variant reading ἡμᾶς us]]*
εἰς : for, i.e. to receive.
μερίς, -ίδος, ἡ : portion.
κλῆρος : apportioned lot.

*.12 ὑμᾶς {B} A majority of the Committee preferred ὑμᾶς (ℵ B 1739 syrhmg copsa goth arm eth), regarding ἡμᾶς (A C D G K P Ψ 33 614 Byz Lect it vg syrp, h copbo al) as an assimilation to ver. 13 (― Bruce Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:13):

ὃς ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ σκότους καὶ μετέστησεν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἀγάπης αὐτοῦ

Transliteration:

hos errysato hēmas ek tēs exousias tou skotous kai metestēsen eis tēn basileian tou huiou tēs agapēs autou

Translation (ESV)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἐρρύσατο : aorist of ῥύομαι deliver.
σκότος : darkness.
μετέστησεν : aorist of μεθίστημι remove, transfer.
τῆς ἀγάπης : "Hebrew" genitive* = beloved.

*The "Hebrew " genitive. Of the types of genitive commonly listed by grammarians, the one which approaches most closely the "general" genitive is the "attributive" or "qualitative" one, also called the "Hebrew" genitive, inasmuch as its scope and use in Biblical Greek is extended, owing to Semitic influence, to many expressions in which the Greeks used not a genitive but an adjective.

This Semitic manner of speaking becomes even more alien to Greek idiom, if the possessive pronoun or demonstrative which applies to the whole compound, and so to the qualified substantive, is put with the genitive that qualifies it, as for example "the septre of thy might" (Ps. 109:2 = "thy mighty septre", or "the throne of his glory" (Mt 19:28) = "his glorious throne""; or Rom 7:24 "(who will deliver me from) the body of this death" = "This mortal body"; Php 3:21 "the body of our lowliness" = "our lowly body"; Heb 1:3 "the word of his might" = "his mighty word"; Rev 13:3 "the wound of his death" = "his mortal wound" (BG §40-41).

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:14):

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν

Transliteration:

en hō̧ echomen tēn apolytrōsin, tēn aphesin tōn hamartiōn

Translation (ESV)

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Analysis (Zerwick):

ἀπολύτρωσις : redemption, liberation.
ἄφεσις : (< ἀφίημι) forgiveness.

[John Reece]

NA27 Text (Colossians 1:15):

ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως

Transliteration:

hos estin eikōn tou theou tou aoratou, prōtotokos pasēs ktiseōs

Translation (ESV)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation

Analysis (Zerwick):

εἰκών, -όνος, ἡ : image.
ἀόρατος : unseen ; invisible.
πρωτότοκος : (< πρῶτος first + τίκτω give birth) first-born with the primacy due to such, cf. Rom 8:29.
κτίσις : creation ; as genitive of comparison perhaps over all creation.